VIDEO: Sheepdogs' bassist looking forward to Junos in Regina

Last year’s Juno Awards were kind to a group of shaggy rockers from Saskatoon, and this year is no exception for the Sheepdogs.

After taking home three awards last year for best single, best new group, and rock album of the year the Sheepdogs are up for three more in 2013

Last year the band broke into the national scene winning a contest to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

Bassist Ryan Gullen says not much has changed for the band since last year.

“We just kind of continue to do what we’ve always wanted to do and always been like pushing to do – just being musicians and making that our jobs,” Gullen told News Talk Radio on a phone interview.

Their song "The Way it is" is up for single of the year and the band also got a nod for group of the year and best rock album.

Gullen says while it’s exciting to just be nominated, he thinks their chances are good on home turf.

“I would like to think that we have a bit of extra luck being that we’re from Saskatchewan and it’s in Saskatchewan but it’s all kind of up to the powers that be,” he commented.

Gullen remembers playing in the Junofest week in Saskatoon back in 2007 and says the atmosphere during the awards is always intense. But more so in a community like Regina where the show becomes a focal point for the whole city

The rock group will have some stiff competition for the best single award this year going up against Carly Rae Jepson and Call Me Maybe. Which everyone has heard at least 300 times.

Billy Talent is also nominated for ‘Viking Death March,’ facing Hedley’s ‘Kiss You Inside Out’ and Serena Ryder’s ‘Stompa.’

A few Saskatchewan musicians picked up Juno nominations in other categories.

Prince Albert’s Donny Parenteau is nominated for the Aboriginal Album of the Year for ‘Bring it On’.

John Ballantyne also originally from Prince Albert picked up a nomination for Instrumental Album of the Year. Regina-born Collin James was nominated for Blues Album of the Year.

Kevin Churko now lives in Las Vegas but he’s originally from Saskatchewan, he is nominated for producer of the year and recording engineer of the year.